Silver Lake J1 board votes 7–1 to restore $1,900 annual member stipend

The Silver Lake J1 School District board voted 7–1 to restore the annual board member stipend of $1,900, including conference registration and travel, reversing the prior year’s decision to forego pay.

During the annual meeting, Amy Regner urged reinstating the stipend, saying, “I personally think we should go back to receiving a salary,” and arguing board duties and meeting demands have increased. Board members who supported pay said the time commitment has grown and modest compensation recognizes that work.

Some trustees argued for continuing to donate the stipend. Chair Joe Hurst described that view during debate: he said he had “moved for us to forego salaries again this year” earlier, noting the position is one of responsibility rather than compensation. The board ultimately approved a substitute motion moved by Mike Gentile and seconded by another board member to pay $1,900 for the year; the chair announced the motion passed 7–1.

The approved amount covers the full annual stipend and includes conference-related registration and travel as presented to the board. A member of the public who spoke during the discussion said board members “have had so many more meetings and given up so much of your time” and supported paying them for that time.

The vote followed a discussion about whether previously issued payments should be returned; the board concluded it would accept the first quarterly payment as the stipend for the year and forego remaining payments, per the chair’s discussion of administrative effort versus benefit.

Next steps: the board will implement the payroll adjustments consistent with the motion and apply the stipend treatment outlined during the meeting.